New Saudi ruler Abdullah pledges 'justice'

[JURIST] Saudi Arabia's new ruler King Abdullah [Wikipedia profile] has vowed to "work for justice and serve all citizens without discrimination," in his first address to the nation [speech excerpts] as its official leader. Saudi King Fahd died early Monday [BBC report] but the country had been under the de facto rule of Crown Prince Abdullah for years due to the ill-health of the King, a period characterized by pushes towards reform and against Islamic extremism. Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said he expected the relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia to continue to strengthen and promised a "total war" against terrorism. Arab News has more.

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